1
Chapter 1
Five days before the strike.
"Archduke Alec. Here is the harvest report for this quarter."
"Hmm... the rye harvest has actually decreased?"
"Well..."
I already know. The Hero's party recently trashed the rye fields while hunting the Frost Dragon.
Silvia the Warrior, Argo the Mage, and Nerika the Saintess. The damage these three alone inflict on my territory is...
"A twenty percent drop. Just how much of a mess did they make?"
"Because the Hero's party failed to properly dispose of the Frost Dragon's corpse..."
"The rye fields for miles around have frozen over?"
The aide nodded reluctantly.
It's always like this.
Slam!
"Hey, Alec! Get dinner ready."
The Hero's party treats me like a pushover. They must think the Archduke of the North is their errand boy.
"And where have you been this time?"
"Now that the Frost Dragon is gone, what do you think is next?"
"Don't tell me... the Frost Golem?"
"I did some research first. I think we can take it. But we'll probably have to lure it out."
The Frost Golem of legend. The reason the Hero's party is after it is to enhance the Frost Greatsword.
It's originally a family heirloom passed down for generations...
"I'll head out to slay the Demon King right after this. Don't worry. I told you, I'll compensate you after looting the Demon King's Castle."
I'll compensate you after looting the Demon King's Castle. They say it every time, and it's been two years already.
Right, because slaying the Demon King is more important than my heirloom, my people's harvest, and the piles of silver in my vault.
I understand.
"So, where's the food?"
Silvia, the Hero, sat down while gently smoothing her blue hair.
That's my seat.
"The North is great and all, but it's freezing."
"That's because it's winter."
"Then can't you turn up the heat?"
"Firewood is scarce in the North, so we must conserve it."
Conserve my foot! It used to be warm twenty-four hours a day!
Right up until the Hero's party barged in, rampaged, and cut the coffers of Hoistein Castle in half!
"Hey, Archduke. Stop being stingy and heat the place up. Silvia is cold. Is the Archduke of the North really shivering over the cost of some firewood?"
"Aw, Argo. I told you not to call me 'Lady Silvia'."
But I have to endure it. All of this is for the sake of defeating the Demon King this winter.
For that, I would even willingly give up the three hundred members of my Frost Knights...
"By the way, about the Frost Knights. I'll need to take five hundred of them. The Demon King's Army is larger than I thought."
"But... five hundred is the entire order. Who will protect my territory then?"
"You're the Archduke of the North; you can handle it."
"Yes, well. I suppose so. So, after we take down the Frost Golem, do you have a plan for invading the Demon King's Castle?"
"Actually, I think it'd be better to attack next summer."
Damn it!
"I have the Frost Greatsword, Nerika has the Holy Cross of the World Tree, and Argo has the Dragon's Breath Staff, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"The Dragon's Breath Staff isn't fully charged yet. I think we need to hunt two more dragons."
"With your skill, Hero, isn't that already enough?"
"I don't know. Why do you keep talking back?"
Silvia shouted in irritation.
Meanwhile, an attendant added more fuel to the fireplace.
"Chief Attendant!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"How much firewood is left?"
"There is only enough for one week."
"And you're adding more? Why on earth? What do you think you're doing!"
"The Hero requested it..."
I'm going crazy! This is Hoistein Castle. This is clearly my residence, the home of Alec Ragnar, and it belongs to me!
Yet these attendants ignore my words and do whatever the Hero says!
"Alec! Why are you so angry? It is cold, isn't it? Apologize to the Chief Attendant."
"Are you telling me to apologize to the Chief Attendant right now?"
"Yes! There's no reason to get yelled at for adding fire because it's cold. Argo, isn't that right?"
"Exactly. Archduke, Silvia is right."
"Ugh, seriously!"
Crash!
I hurled the wine glass from the table toward the fireplace.
Sizzle! The flames roared even fiercer with the sound.
"Oh my. You should have done this sooner!"
"Get out now!"
"What? What did you just say?"
"Silvia, Argo, Nerika. I am politely requesting that the three of you leave Hoistein Castle!"
"Why should we leave? We're the Hero's party."
I shouted in a fit of rage. But as expected, I was simply ignored.
"Sigh..."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Instead, I'll take this."
- Screeech.
I want to scream at them for opening the box without permission, but I have to hold back.
If I push things further, I'll clash with the Dirsia Kingdom.
I'm currently affiliated with the kingdom and even swore an oath of loyalty to Queen Elisa. I have to endure. I must...
"Oh, there are so many potions? Archduke, I'll take some of these."
"Yes, Lord Argo. Please, help yourself."
No. I can't take it anymore.
"Lady Silvia, how many days do you think it will take to hunt the Frost Golem?"
"Hmm, maybe about five days including travel?"
"I see. I'll have high-quality vodka and venison ready by then. So, for today, please be satisfied with chicken."
Let's just get these people to leave of their own accord. They have to go hunt the Frost Golem anyway.
"What do you mean, chicken! Is there no beef?"
Silvia shouted at me with a pout. She's acting like royalty herself.
"Unfortunately, there isn't a single plump cow in the barn right now. Only old ones, and the meat would be too tough."
"Fine then. I'm counting on that venison!"
"Venison... please! If you don't have any, chicken is fine!"
At least Saintess Nerika is making a polite request.
"Nerika! The Archduke of the North is incredibly rich. Don't say chicken is fine! We need to eat better and rest well to slay the Demon King."
"I understand, Lady Silvia."
"Anyway, Argo. Come here for a second. Let's check the route to the Frost Golem."
"What about dinner?"
"Who knows. The Archduke will probably set it up."
Silvia dragged Argo into my office. Well, I'm not using it at the moment, so it's not a problem.
That room is my sanctuary.
Because the Hero's party uses it haphazardly, everything has become a mess. The high-end silk curtains, the various exhibits...
But whatever. Fine, enjoy today, Silvia...
Your party won't be able to enter Hoistein Castle in five days.
"Um, Archduke."
"Hm? Oh, Saintess Nerika."
"Let's go eat the chicken together!"
Nerika stepped closer to me and spoke softly. Whether it's because she's a Saintess or just naturally kind, I don't know...
It feels wrong to kick out Saintess Nerika too.
No. I shouldn't waver. Just think of those two idiots, Silvia and Argo.
"Um, Saintess."
"Yes, Archduke. What is it?"
"I'm sorry that I could only provide chicken."
"It's alright! I heard Hoistein Castle is in a bad state; I actually think Silvia is being far too rude."
"Ahem... thank you for saying so."
This is such a dilemma. Still, I'll have to lock the gates once as an example to snap them out of it.
I have no intention of making enemies with the Hero's party.
I just want them to show me a bit of respect.
"Fifteen years ago, we wouldn't have even been able to dine together like this."
"Now that I think about it, the North was an independent state back then, right?"
"It was the Archduchy of Ragnar."
Fifteen years ago, there was a massive war with the Dirsia Kingdom. A conflict known as the Hundred Days War because it ended in just a hundred days.
The previous Archduke believed that continuing to clash with the Dirsia Kingdom was impossible.
After all, the war had started over the ownership of a few estates.
If it hadn't been for the food shortages back then, the northern territories might have remained independent.
By the time I inherited the title of Archduke of Ragnar twelve years ago, we had already become a vassal state of the kingdom.
"It brings back memories; I was only twelve years old."
"Were you twenty-seven, Archduke?"
"Yes. How old did I look?"
"I thought you were in your mid-thirties..."
Damn it.
"Ahem... anyway, it reminds me of those times. The Dirsia Kingdom. Their actions have been... questionable since Queen Elisa took the throne."
They raised taxes under the guise of providing everything for the Hero's party, which appeared for the first time in forty years.
Meanwhile, balls were held every single day in the capital—a truly ironic sight.
In the meantime, I did my best to expand our military strength in accordance with my late father's wishes.
Increasing the Frost Knights from a mere two hundred to five hundred was part of my greater ambition.
And now, it's time to be a bit bold.
"The chicken was delicious. Goodnight, Archduke."
"Likewise. Sleep well, Saintess."
Sleep well. Because on the day you set out tomorrow, the gates will be firmly shut...
The next day.
"You'd better have that venison ready, okay? High-quality stuff!"
"Yes, yes. I'll do my best to hunt some while you're away."
"I'm trusting you with this!"
As expected, Silvia is incredibly rude. But so what? She won't be able to enter Hoistein Castle for a while.
Watching the Hero's party leave without a single backward glance, I quietly lowered my hand.
"Lock the castle gates."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"And even if the Hero's party returns, do not open the doors."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Call me if they try to attack. Be ready to strike back."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Stop just answering and get moving!"